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1 [1] AND HE CALLED UNTO MOSES; AND THE ETERNAL SPOKE UNTO HIM. Scripture states [the fact that G-d called to Moses] here and not in other places, because *Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of Meeting*, and to draw near the place *where G-d was*, except through G-d calling him [to come into the Tent of Meeting]. For Moses had already been told, *and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover;* *where I will meet with thee*. Since he knew that *the Eternal that sitteth upon the cherubim* was there, Moses was afraid to come into the Tent at all until He called him, just as it was at Mount Sinai where it is said, *and on the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud*. Or it may be that Moses did not know that the Glory of G-d was in the Tent and that the communication to him would be from there, since the cloud did not cover the Tent of Meeting until the eighth day of the installation according to the opinion of our Rabbis; and after this call Moses came into the innermost part of the Tent [i.e., the Holy of Holies], just as the Rabbis have interpreted: “Aaron was not to enter [the Sanctuary except at the prescribed time], but Moses was not included in this command.” This is the plain meaning of this verse. I have explained it already above.
But our Rabbis have said that “all communications [that came to Moses], whether they are introduced by the word *dabeir* (speak), or by *emor* (say), or *tzav* (command), were preceded by a call,” that is to say, G-d said to him, ‘*Moses, Moses*’ and he answered, ‘*Here am I*.’ This was a way of expressing affection and encouragement to Moses. Now according to this opinion, Scripture mentioned the expression [*And He called unto him* …] here, because it was the first communication that came to Moses from the Tent of Meeting, thus teaching us concerning all the other communications that such was His procedure with him all the time and with the whole Torah. The expression *out of the Tent of Meeting* refers according to the Rabbis to the preceding words, [the interpretation of the verse thus being]: “and He called unto him out of the Tent of Meeting; and the Eternal spoke to him in the Tent,” for Moses was already there [in the Tent]. The explanation of the verse according to its plain meaning and sense is: “and the Eternal called unto Moses and spoke unto him, out of the Tent of Meeting.”
By way of the Truth, [the mystic teachings of the Cabala], this verse is like, *And unto Moses He said: ‘Come up unto the Eternal.’* Its secret is known from the Revelation on Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments. I have alluded to it already.
Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI
License: CC-BY